Linklaters appoints new India practice head

Linklaters has appointed Narayan Iyer as head of its India practice, succeeding Sandeep Katwala, the founding partner and head of the India practice for the last ten years.

Narayan, who starts in the role today, is one of the Indian market’s leading international lawyers. Elected as a Linklaters partner in 2007, he left the firm in late 2009 to join Talwar, Thakore & Associates, Linklaters’ best friend law firm in India. He re-joined Linklaters in 2013 and is now based in London with a particular focus on acquisition and structured financings and Indian inbound and outbound transactions.

Linklaters is recognised as having the leading India practice of any international law firm. Recent deals on the sub-continent that Linklaters has advised on include advising the banks on the US$6.85bn Indian refinancing for the Tata Corus group (the largest refinancing involving an Indian group this year), advising Suzlon Energy Limited, one of the world’s largest wind turbine supplier, on India’s largest bond restructuring, advising Indian entrepreneur BR Shetty on his acquisition of Travelex Group and RBS on the sale of its Indian credit card and retail mortgage portfolios and business banking division to Ratnakar Bank.

Simon Davies, Linklaters’ firmwide managing partner, said:

“Narayan was one of the founding members of the Linklaters’ India Practice when it was created in 2004 and, since then, has worked extensively on Indian transactions out of the firm’s Singapore and London offices. With his offshore and on-the ground experience at a time of renewed interest in India amongst our clients, Narayan is uniquely placed to head our market-leading practice.”

Narayan Iyer, head of Linklaters’ India practice, said:

“Linklaters has built up a really strong track record in the region in recent years, working on some of the most high profile transactions and so I’m excited to lead the team forward, building on the pivotal role that Sandeep has played since the group’s inception. India is riding on a wave of optimism following Mr Modi’s election last year. If the new government’s programme of reform continues over the coming years, we will see India become an even more attractive market.”